HOLKERI HOPES THAT 24 MARCH WILL BE FRESH START FOR KOSOVO

HOLKERI, March 24 (Hina) - The UN Civilian Administrator in Kosovo Harri Holkeri issued a message to Kosovans on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the start of NATO's air strikes against Serbian military targets, urging the local population to be united on the path towards a peaceful future.#L# In his address, which was broadcast by the Kosovo Television on Wednesday, Holkeri said that the international community was deeply shocked by the recent events in Kosovo. Last week, violence hit the province in which 28 persons were killed and over 600 injured. This was the gravest inter-ethnic violence in the last five years. The death of innocent people is terrible. Those who perpetrated or incited the crime should be isolated. We call on you to help the police in efforts to identify and arrest perpetrators of riots, Holkeri said in his message. The UN Civilian Administrator also hopes that 24 March 2004 will be a fresh start for Kosovo. (Hina) ms